Cold Link Africa January / February 2020 | Page 20

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
In addition, David Appel, president,
Carrier Transcold, noted the potential
for cold chains to curb greenhouse gas
emissions significantly by reducing food
waste. Liz Goodwin, director, Food Loss
and Waste, World Resource Institute,
presented the findings of a recent report
with recommendations aimed to reduce
emissions from food waste, including
improving food production without
expanding land use.
Andersen urged parties to incorporate
cold chain plans into their Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) for
the Paris accord. Goodwin called for
increasing public-private partnerships
(PPPs) to facilitate industry participation,
while the representative from Mexico
emphasised the importance of
economic incentives.
Participants also discussed the
possibility for cooperation in sustainable
cold chains at both national and
international levels. A representative
from India highlighted India’s efforts to
link sustainable cold chain infrastructure
development to energy efficiency, safety
and design standards, and specialised
training. Finland stated cooperation
between governments and businesses
can foster innovation, while Morassut
emphasised Italy’s efforts to utilise PPPs.
Malawi urged that cooperative efforts
should focus on areas where infrastructure
is currently lacking.
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Participants concluded by emphasising
the role that sustainable cold chains play in
price stabilisation; food security; enhanced
profitability; more secure livelihoods; social
and economic development gains; fair
and just sustainability transitions; SDG
attainment; research, development
and innovation; synergistic action; and
restoration of degraded lands. Parties were
also invited to sign the Rome Declaration
on the Contribution of the Montreal
Protocol to Food Loss Reduction through
Sustainable Cold Chain Management. As
of November 8, the Rome Declaration has
been signed by 76 countries, and is open
for signature up until the start of MOP 32 in
November 2020.
In the Declaration, the Ministers of
the 76 countries stress the importance of
pursuing national action and international
cooperation to promote cold chain
development, including using sustainable
and environmentally friendly refrigeration
to reduce food loss. There is a call for
strengthening cooperation between
governments, the Protocol’s institutions,
UN specialised agencies, existing private
and public initiatives, and all relevant
stakeholders to exchange knowledge and
promote innovation; this would focus on
energy-efficient solutions and technologies
that reduce the use of Protocol-controlled
substances in developing the cold chain,
thereby contributing to the reduction of
food loss and waste.
Delegates recapping on talks.
ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING
NATIONS
The morning session covered Article 5
(developing) countries’ access to energy-
efficient technologies in the refrigeration
air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP)
sectors. The Technology and Economic
Assessment Panel (TEAP) Task Force
on Energy Efficiency concluded that
technologies to enhance the energy
efficiency of air conditioning and
commercial refrigeration equipment
during the HFC phase-down are available;
countries can use market policies and
incentives to increase energy efficiency
during the phase-down of high-GWP HFCs;
international and regional cooperation is
key for market transformation; and Article 5
parties can benefit from capacity building
and market transformation support.
The TEAP Task Force added that
delaying energy-efficient equipment’s
uptake can result in additional costs
over the equipment’s lifetime, and the
price of energy-efficient equipment
tends to be higher in countries with high
ambient temperatures.
COLD LINK AFRICA •
January/February 2020